London: US President Donald Trump expressed his surprise on Friday over the United Kingdom's "very late response" in granting Washington the use of British military bases for conducting strikes targeting Iranian missile capabilities that pose a threat to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump mentioned to reporters that he found the delay unexpected, especially considering the historically strong relationship between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Downing Street confirmed that British Cabinet ministers had approved an expansion of US access to their military bases. This agreement is now extended to include American defensive operations aimed at degrading Iranian missile sites and capabilities that are being utilized to threaten shipping in the strategic strait.

The White House had previously communicated that Trump had expressed his desire to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for London to have "stepped up sooner." The ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran commenced on February 28 and have reportedly resulted in the deaths of 1,300 people, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In response, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks across the region and has implemented restrictions on the passage of most ships through the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is a critical oil transit route, typically handling 20 million barrels per day and accounting for approximately 20% of the global liquefied natural gas trade.